NCJ Number
160191
Date Published
1992
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Current gun-control laws are ineffective in reducing gun violence because they are inconsistent from State to State; to reduce violence, Federal laws that mandate gun registration, licensing, and other measures must be passed and enforced.
Abstract
Even with 20,000 gun-control laws already in existence, the serious problems due to firearm misuse continue. Clearly, the controls that have been designed have not been effective. There are three reasons for this: the lack of uniform legislation; most controls do not go far enough to prevent the problems of firearm misuse; and the controls in place are not effectively enforced. Sweeping Federal legislation would go a long way toward resolving all three of these problems. Such legislation could offer a coherent, orderly means of addressing the gun problem. A nationwide licensing program would be an important first step; this could help keep firearms out of the hands of criminally inclined, irresponsible, and untrained people. Another step toward keeping firearms from untrustworthy people is to require that all firearms be registered; with every gun removed from the hands of unqualified possessors, the misuse of firearms should decrease. Further, a system whereby transferees of firearms are automatically investigated for fitness as a gun owner prior to any actual transfer of the weapon is needed to keep track of firearm ownership. Intricately related to the formalities of a firearm transfer is a mandatory waiting period. A taxing measure for keeping firearms out of city limits is also needed. Those persons licensed to own guns and living in a city may still keep their guns at home, but will be subject to a Federal tax for doing so. This tax should be progressive to avoid inflicting a disproportionate hardship on those least able to pay. Federal legislation should also ban all automatic and military-style semiautomatic weapons; these weapons are designed to kill people quickly and in large numbers.